Imperative of war against indiscipline

Since the inception of the present democracy, ineptitude, corruption and indiscipline have gradually crept into our ways of life, eroding the cultural values that we held in high esteem such as morality and discipline in our society. The tendency to accumulate wealth through any means had been fostered on our young ones and everybody is […]

Since the inception of the present democracy, ineptitude, corruption and indiscipline have gradually crept into our ways of life, eroding the cultural values that we held in high esteem such as morality and discipline in our society.
The tendency to accumulate wealth through any means had been fostered on our young ones and everybody is scrambling to get his share from the national cake.
Corruption has permeated all spheres of our daily endeavours. The traffic gridlock Lagos State is experiencing now is due to indiscipline. The inability of some of the elites to be orderly on the roads reflected our corrupt tendency and vision to cheat in order to get to our destinations.
This bad attitude exhibited by some Nigerians portrays us as citizens that lack orderliness and respect for simple traffic rules. Recently, policemen and road safety corps were drafted to maintain orderliness. This had led to free flow of traffic in the area. This scenario justified the clamour for imposition of sanctions on Nigerians breaking the laws of the country.
The desirability of imposing sanctions on people that broke the laws can draw reference on what the government of former governor of Lagos State Raji Fashola did to motorists to create orderliness on the road. Lagosians then, started to imbibe the culture of queuing at the bus terminus, thereby maintaining orderliness. This has been replicated in other areas of human activities in the city.
However, when the new governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, came on board, his pronouncement on LASTMA, which the citizens misconstrued, created avenue for some Nigerians to go to their former ways of indiscipline on the roads.
In retrospect, the military regime of Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon in 1983-85 believed that the imposition of sanctions would stop Nigerians from going against the laws of the country. During this period, Nigerians imbibed the spirit of queuing and taking their turn in every sphere of our daily activities. The tendency to be corrupt or take bribe reduced drastically as well as the action of economic saboteurs.
WAI was launched in March 20, 1984, to address the perceived lack of public morality and civil responsibility in the society. The “WAR AGAINST INDISCIPLINE” (WAI) song was on the tongue of every Nigerian who reminded recalcitrant people on the need to maintain decorum in all activities.
In developed countries, there are both human and technology keeping watch on everybody’s activities and the desire of the citizens to call you to order.
The inability of successive governments from 1999-2015 to sanction erring Nigerians and corporate organisations involved in acts of indiscipline has led to flaunting the laws of the country.
There were many court judgments that former heads of executive arm of government refused to enforced because of the fact that it affected the supporters of ruling government while opposition rights were easily infringed upon.
Since the assumption of office by President Muhammadu
Buhari, things have started taking shape. It is well known now that it is no longer business as usual.
It is imperative for government agencies such as federal ministries of information and culture and education to take the message of “Change” to all nooks and crannies of the country.
Civic responsibilities and public morality should be taught our children in nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
Government should support institutions that will sustain the tempo of discipline and change mantra of the present administration, through effective funding to enable them perform effectively in the dissemination of information to Nigerians.
The appointment, deployment and termination of appointment of officials of institutions such as the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences
(ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau should reside with the National Assembly so that these institutions would be able to perform their duties without fear or favour.
There is need to change the attitude of Nigerians to work and cherish values such as orderliness, meritocracy, political neutrality, integrity, discipline, professionalism; patriotism, impartiality, anonymity, accountability and transparency.
These core values must be instilled on our children, right from kindergarten, in order to take our country to greater height.
For our citizens to gain dividend of democracy, the act of indiscipline had to be jettisoned and we have to embrace the Change Mantra by keeping to time, maintain orderliness in all our activities, be diligent on our duty, transparent in all our dealings and stop indulging in indiscipline acts in the society.

Once these attributes are imbibed by each and every one of us, we would have the courage and authority to challenge unpopular government at local, state and federal levels.
Kazeem is Resident Information Officer